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Notes on understanding the dialectics of Kazakh ornament // ΠΡΑΞΗMΑ. Journal of Visual Semiotics. 2026. Issue 1 (47). P. 149-158

The authors discuss the formulation of a research problem for a future project. The focus is on finding the "entry point" for comprehending the principles by which Kazakh ornaments have preserved and continue to preserve a combination of local cultures and global cultural influence. The discussion is structured around clarifying positions, which the authors term groups of visual arguments. These groups are presented in illustrative material: 1. "Depiction of a Mythical Creature"; 2. "Examples of the 'Natural' Selection of Ornamental Elements"; 3. "Variants of the 'Qoshqar Müyiz' Ornament"; 4. "Variants of the 'Qos Müyiz' Ornament"; 5. "The Image of the World Tree and the Tree of Life Ornament". The conclusion is drawn that the potential of visual semiotics creates the "entry point" for understanding the dialectics of ornamentation. Ornament inherits archetypal patterns possessing an enduring appeal. In other words, these patterns transmit ancient and stable conceptions of world order, allowing them to be "read" not through writings, but through ornaments.

Keywords: ornamentation studies, petroglyphs, style, Kazakh ornaments, dialectics